Chapter 216: Chapter 216: Making Clothes
Shen Yiyue ca back mainly to deliver a ssage to Yang PeiMin and to bring her niece back, but her gossip-loving heart had not cald down at all. No sooner had she finished talking than she quickly grabbed a ladder, climbed over the wall, and peered at the bustling scene at the neighboring Li Family’s house.
Yang PeiMin, watching her do this, felt a tickle of curiosity too, but with little Xiao Fen still there, looking up at her with eyes full of hope for praise and reward, she managed to quell her restless heart. She took out the rewards she had promised Xiao Fen, a few pieces of fruit-flavored candy and so hawthorn candies, and handed them to her, “Share with your sister and don’t eat them all at once, okay? Rember to brush your teeth tonight.”
Xiao Fen took the treats, loudly agreed, and ran off.
Yang PeiMin then walked over to Shen Yiyue’s side, leaned in to listen for a mont, and faintly heard Huang Tao arguing. Reassured, she turned around, went back to the kitchen, reheated two pork knuckles, sliced them up, and prepared for dinner.
That evening, Shen Yiyue and Yang PeiMin had a great appetite and even added an extra bowl of rice each.
Chen Guizhi thought they were eating more because the pork knuckles were delicious and couldn’t help but laugh, “Once you guys pass your exams, we’ll buy a few more to celebrate.”
Everyone nodded happily.
However, Shen Yixiang asked, “Do you know what they’re arguing about next door? Did you guys hear anything?”
Shen Yiyue and Yang PeiMin exchanged looks and seeing their sister-in-law looked expectant, Shen Yiyue smiled and said, “I just eavesdropped a bit, Huang Tao and Li Family’s eldest daughter-in-law were having a huge fight. It seed like Huang Tao did sothing wrong and got caught and scolded by the eldest daughter-in-law. Aunt Li was also very angry and helped scold Huang Tao until she cried. It was quite a scene, Huang Tao just kept crying, but it was no use, the whole Li Family ignored her, even Li Xiaoer angrily turned around, went inside the house, and wouldn’t look at her. Huang Tao is really in trouble now…”
Shen Yixiang’s interest was piqued, “So, what did she do?”
Shen Yiyue pursed her lips, “I only caught bits and pieces, but it seems like Huang Tao despised the poverty of the Li Family, looking down on them for being poor…”
Shen Yixiang just spat out, “She had it coming!” She had long been annoyed at Huang Tao for always showing up to take advantage of them without good reason.
After dinner, Shen Yiyue followed Yang PeiMin into her room, where she then burst out laughing gleefully, “Sister-in-law, this is perfect. Huang Tao won’t dare to co around our house anymore for fear of protecting her own reputation.”
Yang PeiMin nodded, it looked like Huang Tao would have enough trouble on her hands because of this incident; not only was her mother-in-law watching her like a hawk, but her husband also harbored suspicions. Since she liked to ddle in other people’s relationships, it was only fair she got to taste her own dicine.
But Yang PeiMin thought of Xiao Fen and couldn’t help but caution Shen Yiyue, “I don’t know whether Huang Tao might take out her anger on Xiao Fen. We should tell Xiao Fen and Xiao Fang to stay away from Huang Tao the next ti they see her. I’m not worried about anything else, but it’s very likely she might curse or hit them.” Thinking about this, she sowhat regretted setting up Xiao Fen as the bait.
Shen Yiyue reassured her with a laugh, “Sister-in-law, you’re overthinking it. They are just a child’s innocent comnts and weren’t unjustly blaming her. She wouldn’t really make an issue out of it with a child. Isn’t she a mother herself? Wouldn’t she worry about her own son finding himself in a similar predicant?”
Yang PeiMin nodded, what Shen Yiyue said made sense, but still advised to remain vigilant. Although she later realized she had been overthinking, the idea of preventing potential problems was sothing she dared not overlook.
After discussing that matter, Shen Yiyue then pestered Yang PeiMin to start working on so clothes.
Yang PeiMin was already considering it since it was now sumr, and she didn’t like any of the sumr clothes the original owner had, so she thought of making a couple of new tops herself.
Shen Yiyue was in a hurry for a skirt, so Yang PeiMin started with that, first drawing the pattern, then cutting the fabric. In this, Yang PeiMin was a novice, so she ended up asking Chen Guizhi to co over and guide her.
Chen Guizhi, however, stared at her drawings, furrowed her brow, and said, “Why does this dress look so odd? Who would let their daughter wear such a thing, Yiyue?”
PeiMin sketched a pink, short-sleeved, collared sports dress with a waist accentuation, the hem reaching the knees—it looked quite conservative to her. Yet Chen Guizhi still felt it was too tight, accentuating every curve.
Yiyue liked it very much and ignored Chen Guizhi’s muttering. She persistently pestered her until Chen Guizhi, having no choice, ticulously taught her the tailoring skills—cutting, sewing, hemming, and fastening. She also called Yixiang over to learn.
Yixiang saw the dress that Yiyue was making and wanted one too. “Mom, make a blue one.” She wasn’t interested in learning, only chard by the pretty dress.
Yiyue glanced at her, “What do you an ‘mom make’? It’s not mom making it; she’s just teaching us. If you want one, make it yourself. Do we even have the fabric?”
Yixiang choked, glanced at PeiMin, “I’ll buy my own fabric. I thought we could cut the fabric for mine along with yours. It’s faster to cut both at once since our sizes are similar…”
Yiyue still stared at her. “Mine needs to be made quickly. My sister-in-law is going to tutoring soon, and this kind of solid-colored fabric is available in the county, not in our town. Where are you planning to buy it?”
Yixiang opened her mouth but was left speechless by Yiyue’s rebuke, her face reddening as she glared back.
“That day I asked you to co with us, and you refused. We bought fabric, each according to our needs and preferences. Where now can you find the fabric for yourself?”
Yixiang looked at PeiMin again, rembering she had bought several bundles sufficient for plenty of clothes. Borrowing so wouldn’t be too much, “Didn’t you buy quite a bit? Can I just borrow a few yards? I’ll pay you back.”
Chen Guizhi gently slapped her, “All this ‘you, you, you,’ and not even calling her ‘sister-in-law.’ Now you rember to ask for her help?”
Yixiang hadn’t expected Chen Guizhi to respond this way; she blushed, stamred, and stomped her foot. “What’s all this about?”
Yiyue walked over and whispered, “Is it so hard to say a few kind words to your sister-in-law?”
“I just…”
“Do you still want your dress made or not?”
Yixiang stopped abruptly.
PeiMin chuckled, “Alright, I was just teasing you. I did prepare so fabric for you, thinking if you wanted to make it, we could start right away. If not, I’ll just use it myself. Co, see if you like this color?”
Yixiang looked up and saw PeiMin, her face soft and radiant under the dim yellow light, her fair skin glowing gently, creating an ethereally beautiful image. Suddenly, she felt a pang of sha.
She shuffled over, took the light blue fabric from her hands, revealing a smile, “Thank you, sister-in-law. I really like it.”
PeiMin nodded at her, hoping her sister-in-law would pick on her less in the future. This was the last ti she would bring her sothing.
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